Monitor choices

[BradLyons]

When it comes to studio monitors, I want to warn you NOT TO PICK THEM BASED ON LISTENING to previous recorded material through them. Sadly, this is how other "sales" guys show off mointors to you in the store and how most consumers will judge them. This is perfectly fine for a home stereo system because you would then be judging your choice by what sounds best, but studio monitors are about accuracy and detail. When you judge a monitor by playing back a CD, you're only listening to how that mix sounds through the monitors. The way you really judge a monitor is by mixing on them without compromising your mix. For example when I used Mackie HR824's, I knew I had to adjust for the high frequencies on my cymbals as they didn't give me the clarity I needed. When I used Event 20/20Bas many years ago, I had to adjust for the bass phase that those give. I'm fortunate now to own ADAM P33A's which are truly amazing monitors, they are dead accurate and are VERY natural. Many comment on ADAM as being "too bright", but this goes back to my point of listening to a CD...it's simply showing how bright that CD is mixed

With this said, you do NOT have to spend $3,500+ on monitors to get something that will work for you either. But make no mistake, you DO get what you pay for. If you have $600 to spend, how long would it take you to save up another $400? IMHO if you spend $600 now, you're going to be back here again down the road looking to upgrade again. If you can spend $400 more and get the Dynaudio BM5A's....I promise you, you will NOT regret that investment. I've spent years testing and mixing on many monitors from the Yamaha NS10's and Alesis Monitor Ones up to those that are well into the 5-figure price-point. For the money, those BM5A's are SO hard to beat!

Studio monitors are, IMHO, one of the most important investments you can make. It doesn't matter how good your pres and converters are, your mics, your cabling, etc...if you can't really hear what you're recording and mixing...right? I've spent more money than I care to think about over the years, but after finally taking the plunge on my ADAM's, I'm set for many years to come. For the budget-priced monitors, it is my professional opinion that you should really consider the BM5A's....even if you have to wait to save up for it. Buy now what you don't wish to buy again.

[jaffi]

I will also back the ADAMS. I have the p11a's. Yes, I have heard from some that they are bright, but I am a sucker for highs. That is where most monitors have been lacking IMO. But, if you don't want to spend a few grand on monitors I would suggest the KRK V series monitors. For their cost, they are the best as far as I am concerned.

[BradLyons]

Jaffi,

You should look into the ADAM Artist monitors, wonderful monitors in the $1200 range for entry-level ADAM, but still the folded ribbon tweeter. Congrats on your purchase of the P11A, now just add their sub! If you ever get the chance to audition the Dynaudio BM5A's, you really should.....absolutely amazing monitors at that $995 price-point. I'm setting up a surround mixing system sometime in 2006 locked to video, I considered doing it with BM5A's but decided to go all ADAM instead....there is no way I can let my ears choose any other way. THIS IS WHY I HATE ADAM AUDIO and MONSTER CABLE.... once you go all out, any other choice is cutting corners no matter how much money you save! DANG DANG DANG!!!! haha

[mhayesmusic]

Brad & Jaffi,

Thanks for your input. I also agree with you Brad about using a prerecorded mix of your favorite artist to sample monitors in a music store is an extremely bad idea. The store will never ever sound like your room at home. I don't care if they have a room that is baffled with a glass sliding door, it will still not sound like your own room. This is the reason I still have not slected the final monitors. I am so glad I started this thread with specific choices I was thinking about, I have learned so much from all of you. In this time I haven't made a decision, I am sure I am saving up a few extra bucks to maybe get something a little better. Who knows, maybe I will find a deal somewhere on the Dynaudio. If you know whos got deals to save me a 100-200 smackers send them my way. Keep this thread going I would love to keep getting feedback from all of you or more

MH

[BradLyons]

MH,

Actually my point is NOT to use a CD to play through monitors AT ALL.... the only way you can figure out how good a monitor is is to mix on them and listen to the CD that you mixed in another playback system. Listening to mixed CD's through monitors, whether in a store or your own studio, will show you nothing about the monitor other than what that track sounds like through your monitors.

[dixiechicken]

Has anybody an opinion on the german "Emes Kobalt" nearfield monitors.
(http://www.emes.de/pageseng/products/ek ... kobalt.htm)

Have tried them out at my homestudio this week.
They sound good to me, but they are priced a bit above the limit I had set for myself.

Cheers: Dixiechicken

[Tonio]

On the Dyn B5A situation, be aware that there is the new and the old.
Currently (even @ GC) the BM5A "COMPACT" and the original BM5A's. The originakl goes down to 41hz? and the compact goes down to 49hz.
It may be different drivers? Funny pat is one of teh 5's has larger woofer than the BM6a's???

T

[BradLyons]

Actually, they both have a 6.9" woofer I believe. It's not always about the frequency response, but what is happening between that low and high number as well as the quality of the amps, crossover, etc. For example, my monitors are 35Hz to 35kHz, but it wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't ruler-flat and didn't have high-quality amps, ya know?

[mikebeckmotu]

I don't do "pro" recording for clients, and have had to deal with a budget - so the more expensive monitors were out of my price range. I have two sets of monitors. Event TR5s and KRK Rokit 5s. I have had the Events for about two years, and recently got the KRKs. I liked the Events a lot when I got them, but I like the KRKs better. I have no way to know which set is more accurate, but I simply like the sound of the KRKs more than the Events, and seem to get better results mixing with them. I have listened to the M-Audio BX5s in the same room as the KRKs and thought the M-Audios sounded kind of shrill. Anyway, there's my two cents.

[BaSSic]

using genelec right now.
if i was going to get another set, definatly adams...

hey Splatterbass...
I was thinking about buying some Genelec's. I was wondering which model are you using, and what do you
think about them...

Is there anyone else using Genelec monitors?

[jmoore]

I've got a pair of Genelec 1029A's (no sub), and I feel like they are pretty accurate (at least for the price point). That being said, I haven't exactly gotten any mixes off of them that I've been particularly proud of, but I think that's mostly due to my inexperience and not the monitors. After hearing Brad talk about 'em, I wish I had the opportunity to give the BM5A's a listen.

-jm